How do I get to Sanday? Loganair (part of the Flybe group) fly from Aberdeen, Barra, Belfast, Benbecula, Birmingham, Campbeltown, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Guernsey, Inverness, Islay, Isle of Man, Jersey, Leeds/Bradford, London (Gatwick), Manchester, Manston (Kent), Newquay, Norwich, Southampton, Stornoway and Sumburgh (Shetland). Most flights are via Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen or Inverness. Or, you could travel by Northlink ferry from the ferry terminals in Aberdeen (to Kirkwall) and Scrabster (to Stromness). Alternatively, you could travel by Pentland Ferries on the Gill´s Bay to St Margert´s Hope route. Finally, John O´ Groats passenger only ferries run from John O´Groats to South Ronaldsay. From May to September, there is a direct bus route from Inverness to John O´Groats that meets with the ferry – this is known as ´The Orkney Bus´. There are daily departures by ferry from Kirkwall. Also, there are two Loganair flights a day to Sanday except for one on Saturday and none on Sunday.

How do I get around Sanday? The Sanday Bus meets the inter-island ferries and also carries out Island tours throughout the summer. There is also a Taxi service through Ayers Rock and Kettletoft Garage, who also hire cars.

What’s worth visiting on Sanday? Quoyness Chambered Tomb is a Neolithic Chambered Tomb built around 2900BC, in a similar style to Maes Howe. Start Point LIghthouse is painted with distinctive black and white vertical stripes. It was fitted with the first revolving light in Scotland by Robert Stevenson. Ortie is an abandoned 19th century crofting Township that once housed more than 60 people.

Where can I stay on Sanday? The Kettletoft Hotel is a small Hotel and there is also Bed and Breakfast available at Backaskaill and at High Tofts. Self-catering is also offered at Park, Bowmans Cottage, The Belsair, Springwell, Greystone, West Silverhall, UpperHouse, Little Lonnie and Quoyayre. There is also a Hostel, Caravan hire and Camping at Ayre’s Rock.

Any other information on Sanday? In 1991, a Viking boat burial containing three human skeletons, household items and weapons, was uncovered in Scar, near Burness, on Sanday. For m ore information on Sanday, please read my article ‘Cream Teas to stress free – moving to the island of Sanday‘.